Reusable pinata with spring loaded latches

ABSTRACT

A reusable piñata includes a release mechanism to cause the piñata to open when struck on a particular location or locations. The piñata may include two hinged housing members that are resiliently held together by the release mechanism. When the struck in a certain location, the release mechanisms may release a catch, causing the hinged housing members to spring open. The piñata may include a shock activated voice mechanism to add sound or voice to the piñata when struck. Typically, the release mechanism may include an arm or leg member of the piñata, for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to party supplies and, more particularly,to a reusable piñata with spring loaded latches.

Conventional piñatas are made of paper and require a hard stick tobreak. This may be dangerous for children and may cause injuries.Moreover, conventional paper piñatas are designed for a single use, asonce they are broken open, there is no way to put them back together,requiring disposal and the purchase of a new product when desired.Typically, conventional piñatas are not use indoors, as there may bemore likelihood of damage or injury in confined spaces.

As can be seen, there is a need for a reusable piñata that may bereused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a reusable piñata comprises acase having a first half hingedly attached to a second half, the firstand second halves adapted to connect together with a space enclosedtherewithin; at least one opening mechanism adapted to resiliently holdthe first and second halves in an open configuration; at least one latchadapted to hold the first half together with the second half; and atleast one release mechanism adapted to release the at least one latch,thereby permitting the case to open via the opening mechanism.

In another aspect of the present invention, a reusable piñata comprisesa case having a first half hingedly attached to a second half, the firstand second halves adapted to connect together with a space enclosedtherewithin; at least one opening mechanism adapted to resiliently holdthe first and second halves in an open configuration; at least one latchadapted to hold the first half together with the second half; at leastone release mechanism adapted to release the at least one latch, therebypermitting the case to open via the opening mechanism; a loading hatchon a top portion of the piñata, the loading hatch resiliently openableto permit access to the space enclosed by the case; and at least onealignment bar on each of the first half and second half, the alignmentbars adapted to align the first half with the second half when the caseis closed.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a piñata, in use, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the piñata of FIG. 1, opening to releaseits contents;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the piñata of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a release mechanism used on the piñata of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the release mechanism of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the release mechanism of FIG. 5, in an openconfiguration;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the release mechanism of FIG. 5, showingmovements during unlatching;

FIG. 10 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the release mechanism ofFIG. 5 moving into an opened configuration;

FIG. 11 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the release mechanism inan opened configuration;

FIG. 12 is a partially cut-away view of the piñata of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 13 is a detailed cross-sectional view of an alternate embodimentfor the release mechanism for a reusable piñata according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a reusablepiñata that may include a release mechanism to cause the piñata to openwhen struck on a particular location or locations. The piñata mayinclude two hinged housing members that are resiliently held together bythe release mechanism. When the struck in a certain location, therelease mechanisms may release a catch, causing the hinged housingmembers to spring open. The piñata may include a shock activated voicemechanism to add sound or voice to the piñata when struck. Typically,the release mechanism may include an arm or leg member of the piñata,for example.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 12, a piñata assembly 10 having two pieces,a latched case half 14 and an arm case half 16, that may close togetherto form a space inside. The piñata assembly 10 may include a springloaded latch 12 that may secure the two pieces 14, 16 of the piñataassembly 10 together when a latch hook is engaged into a spring loadedrelease mechanism 26. The spring loaded release mechanism 26 may beresiliently held in place (that is, engaged with the latch hook 34) byone or more springs 30. One of more opening mechanisms 32 may beattached to the two pieces 14, 16 of the piñata assembly 10 and may bedesigned to resiliently hold the pieces open. Therefore, when the springloaded release mechanism 26 releases the spring loaded latch 12, theopening mechanisms 32 may cause the two pieces 14, 16 of the piñataassembly 10 to spring apart via a hinge arm spring 44, for example.

On top of the piñata assembly 10, one or more loading latches 44 may bedisposed. The loading latches 44 may keep a top panel 24 of the piñataclosed, but may be resiliently opened to permit loading of the piñataonce the two pieces 14, 16 of the piñata assembly 10 are closed/latched.

A shock activated sound producing device (not shown) may be a devicethat plays a pre-recorded message once a shock of a certain force isdetected. The shock activated sound producing device may also includeoutputs to power lights that may be visible to persons around thepiñata.

A strap 38 may be disposed at the top of the piñata for hanging. Otherhanging members may be used in place of or in addition to the strap 38.

Alignment bars 40 may be disposed on a lower portion of each piece ofthe piñata assembly 10. The alignment bars 40 may help keep the twopieces 14, 16 of the piñata assembly 10 aligned together when the piñatais closed/latched.

In some embodiments, the spring loaded release mechanism 26 may be acharacter's arm, for example, that may be operable to disengage a latchrim 28 formed on the end thereof from the latch hook 34, causing thepieces 14, 16 to open. In some embodiments, the latch hook 34 may beused on each arm and/or each leg of a character, where release of all ofthe latch hooks 34 is required to open the piñata. In some embodiments,the latches may be other designs. For example, a wheel could be therelease mechanism, or the piñata may be shaped as a football that hasbuttons that must be pushed to release the latch.

In some embodiments, the spring loaded release mechanism 26 may bedeployed in one of more limb attachments 42 but not in others, requiringthe user to not only hit the limb attachment 42, but to hit the correctone having the spring loaded release mechanism 26.

A latch reset handle 36 can be provided to reset the latch hook 34 toreclose and reuse the piñata assembly 10.

To use, an user 18 may swing a stick, such as a foam stick 22, at thepiñata assembly 10. When the user 18 hits the release mechanism 26, thepiñata pieces 14, 16 may open to release its contents 20, as shown inFIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 13, another exemplary embodiment of a releasemechanism 56 is shown. In this case, the release mechanism 56 may be abutton 54 disposed on a wall case 48. The button 54 may depress a spring58 resiliently held in place with a spring holder 50. A hook on thebutton 54 may disengage from a latch mechanism 54 when pressed, causingthe piñata to open.

A soft, foam stick 22 may be used with the piñata of the presentinvention. The stick 22 may be suitable for use not only outdoors, butalso indoors. Other stick designs may be used within the scope of thepresent invention.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reusable piñata comprising: a case having afirst half hingedly attached to a second half, the first and secondhalves adapted to connect together with a space enclosed therewithin; atleast one opening mechanism adapted to resiliently hold the first andsecond halves in an open configuration; at least one latch adapted tohold the first half together with the second half; and at least onerelease mechanism adapted to release the at least one latch, therebypermitting the case to open via the opening mechanism.
 2. The reusablepiñata of claim 1, further comprising a loading hatch on a top portionof the piñata, the loading hatch resiliently openable to permit accessto the space enclosed by the case.
 3. The reusable piñata of claim 1,further comprising at least one alignment bar on each of the first halfand second half, the alignment bars adapted to align the first half withthe second half when the case is closed.
 4. The reusable piñata of claim1, wherein the case is shaped as a character.
 5. The reusable piñata ofclaim 4, wherein at least one arm or leg of the character is connectedto the at least one release mechanism.
 6. The reusable piñata of claim1, further comprising a shock activated voice mechanism adapted to playat least one pre-recorded message when a shock is detected.
 7. Thereusable piñata of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism is at leastone button disposed on an exterior of the piñata.
 8. The reusable piñataof claim 1, further comprising at least one strap for hanging thepiñata.
 9. A reusable piñata comprising: a case having a first halfhingedly attached to a second half, the first and second halves adaptedto connect together with a space enclosed therewithin; at least oneopening mechanism adapted to resiliently hold the first and secondhalves in an open configuration; at least one latch adapted to hold thefirst half together with the second half; at least one release mechanismadapted to release the at least one latch, thereby permitting the caseto open via the opening mechanism; a loading hatch on a top portion ofthe piñata, the loading hatch resiliently openable to permit access tothe space enclosed by the case; and at least one alignment bar on eachof the first half and second half, the alignment bars adapted to alignthe first half with the second half when the case is closed.
 10. Thereusable piñata of claim 9, further comprising a shock activated voicemechanism adapted to play at least one pre-recorded message when a shockis detected.